There was a possibility that instead of earning 112 caps and winning two World Cups with the All Blacks, Dan Carter could have donned the green jersey of Ireland..
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In his 2015 autobiography, Carter revealed that early in his career, he was given the chance to play semi-professionally in Ireland.
A friend of Carter’s father, working in Ireland at the time, discovered Irish ancestry that could have qualified Carter to play for Ireland.
However, the young player opted to sign with Canterbury, and a year later, joined the Super Rugby side Crusaders
Carter wrote in his book: “I was now a professional rugby player. Super Rugby players earned $65,000 a year as a base salary – a vast sum for a small-town boy like me. That came on top of the $10,000 a year base salary I was getting from Canterbury. I signed that deal for three years, which seemed pretty amazing for me at the time.
“I was still surprised that anyone wanted to pay me for playing the sport that I loved. In three years’ time, when I was an All Black and was starting to be pretty well known, that $10,000 contract would look like a bargain.
“I also didn’t have anyone advising me yet. Remember that rugby was still a baby when it came to professionalism. Along with the Canterbury contract, I was also offered a deal to play semi-professionally in Ireland.
“A friend of Dad’s was working over there, and had found some Irish blood which allowed me to turn out for them. Luckily the Canterbury deal was a little closer to home, otherwise who knows what colour jersey I’d have ended up wearing?”
All Blacks legend Dan Carter’s rugby dream team is something special
Carter, the all-time leading points scorer in international rugby history, boasts a remarkable 1,598 points from his 112 caps. When you add the additional 1,708 points he contributed to the Crusaders, it becomes clear just how profound his influence on the sport has been.
Although injuries prevented him from participating in the Rugby World Cup in 2007 and 2011, he concluded his Test career on a high note. His exceptional performance in the 2015 final, where he was named Man of the Match, led the All Blacks to a well-deserved victory—a fitting farewell.
Take a look at his rugby dream team, composed of players he’s openly expressed his admiration for in interviews below:
FRONT-ROW:
SECOND-ROW:
